Shrinking Antarctica Could Put 260 Million People Underwater

Scientists analyzed the effects of the shrinking Antarctica on the world’s seas and their levels.

The shrinking going on in Antarctica is mostly caused by the melting ice sheets and the descent of ice shelves into the surrounding seas. Adding volume to the world’s oceans causes sea levels to rise, reaching farther up onto land.

This puts those living closest to the ocean, or in very low altitude areas near the coastline in danger of severe and permanent flooding.

How Much Will Sea Levels Rise Because of the Shrinking Antarctica?

Presently, it is difficult to say how much the sea level will rise. According to an expert on planetary sciences, Robert E. Kopp, we will not have precise calculations on the matter for another few decades.

The best case scenario sees sea levels rising about 2 feet. This heavily depends on emission levels. It also hinges on the adherence to the goals and guidelines set in place by the Paris Climate Agreement. In this scenario, over 100 million people will still lose their homes to a rising tide.

Calculations have also been made to predict sea-level rise levels should the most drastic scenarios unfold. According to a study published by the National Academy of Sciences, the Amundson Sea is likely destabilized.

The paper claims that: “if the Amundsen Sea sector is destabilized, then the entire marine ice sheet will discharge into the ocean, causing a global sea-level rise of about 3 m.”

That’s almost 9.84 feet. According to Kopp, an 8 feet rise in sea levels could see the homes of 236 million people disappearing underwater. That number is likely to approach the 260 million mark if the ocean rises to nearly ten feet.

It is still hard to say to what extent the environment has been irreparably harmed. Scientists will know more in the coming decades, but that is primarily because the preventative actions taken now are of such great importance.